BY DARREN JOHNSTONE – Capital City Press
Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston has challenged his Pars to remain at the League One summit for the rest of the season.
The Fife outfit regained the number one spot at the weekend following a 3-0 victory over Stranraer, and will bid to strengthen their status as the team to catch when they host Forfar tomorrow.
Dunfermline are desperate to step back up to the Championship following three seasons in the third tier and Johnston is not planning on surrendering their place at the top.
He said: “If you look at the stats we’ve got the best defensive record and the best attacking record.
“The only thing we were lacking was being top of the league, now we’re there it’s about staying there.
“We know it’s hard, the teams below us are going to be pushing us but we’ve got to make sure that we keep continuing to win.
“The challenge for us is to remain there, it’s consistency. If you want to win leagues it’s consistently winning, getting clean sheets. That’s four clean sheets in the last six league games, things like that are really important.
“You’re also hoping it gives the players a lot of confident when they come in and see that they’re top of the table.
“It’s the desire to stay there. It can bring added pressure being top of the league but if you want to win the league you have to take that in your stride.”
Johnston, meanwhile, is hoping midfielder Josh Falkingham is close to a comeback despite being diagnosed with a fractured back.
Falkingham has not featured since being replaced in last month’s draw with Airdrie.
Johnston added: “Josh was involved in a collision and felt a pain, and he has a small fracture in his back.
“It sounds serious but I don’t think it’s actually as bad as what it sounds. Hopefully he’ll be back within the next week or two.”
